PreACT 9 vs. HSPT: Which Chicago High School Test Does Your Student Need?
A side-by-side comparison of the CPS PreACT 9 Secure HSAT and the HSPT used by Chicago Catholic high schools.
Chicago eighth graders may prepare for two completely different admissions tests in the same fall. CPS uses the PreACT 9 Secure as the HSAT. Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic high schools that administer an entrance exam use the closed HSPT. Preparing for one does not fully prepare a student for the other.
| Feature | CPS PreACT 9 Secure / HSAT | Chicago Catholic HSPT |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | Eligible CPS Selective Enrollment and choice programs | Admissions and placement at Catholic high schools administering an entrance exam |
| Main sections | English, math, reading, science | Verbal, quantitative, reading, mathematics, language |
| Administration | CPS school day or designated GoCPS session | At the student’s first-choice Catholic high school |
| Retesting | CPS says one take only | Archdiocesan guidance says a student who tests at one Catholic high school may not retest at another site |
| Admissions context | 50% grades and 50% HSAT for applicable points-based programs; tier and ranking also matter | Each Catholic high school determines how scores and records are used; scholarships may be tied to testing at that school |
Where the content overlaps
Both reward reading comprehension, grammar, mathematics, careful multiple-choice reasoning, and pacing. Strong core skills transfer.
Where preparation diverges
The HSPT includes verbal and quantitative reasoning formats that do not map neatly onto PreACT 9 sections. The PreACT 9 includes science-data reasoning that is not a standard HSPT section. Timing, question style, and score reporting also differ.
Students applying to both systems
Build a shared foundation first, then add test-specific blocks. A student might spend most instruction on math and reading fundamentals while completing separate HSPT verbal practice and PreACT 9 science practice.
A concrete timeline for a family applying to both
The two tests land close together in the fall, and trying to peak for both on the same weekend is how students burn out. A workable sequence for a family pursuing CPS and Catholic options is to build shared fundamentals — reading comprehension, grammar, and core math — through late summer, then layer in test-specific work: PreACT 9 science-data practice on one track and HSPT verbal and quantitative reasoning on the other. Because CPS testing for non-CPS students falls in October and Catholic entrance testing is typically scheduled by the receiving high school around the same period, students should confirm both dates early and protect a light week before each.
The formats that do not transfer
Most of the confusion between these tests comes from two sections with no counterpart on the other exam. The HSPT includes verbal reasoning (analogies, logic, verbal classification) and quantitative reasoning (number series, comparisons, and reasoning that looks more like a puzzle than a math class problem). Neither maps onto anything on the PreACT 9. Going the other direction, the PreACT 9's science-data reasoning section has no equivalent on the HSPT. A student who prepares only with one test's materials will walk into unfamiliar question types on the other.
How the results are used differs, too
The stakes are structured differently. CPS uses the HSAT inside a points system — for applicable points-based programs, 50% final seventh-grade grades and 50% test performance, with tier and ranking also affecting offers. Catholic high schools each decide independently how they weigh the HSPT alongside grades and records, and some tie scholarship consideration to testing at that specific school. That means the "same" strong score can function very differently depending on the system, which is one more reason to keep the two preparation tracks — and the two sets of expectations — clearly separate.
When to verify with the school directly
Catholic high schools set their own testing dates, first-choice rules, make-up policies, and scholarship criteria, and these are not uniform across the Archdiocese. Families should confirm the specifics with each high school on their list rather than assuming one school's policy applies everywhere. For CPS, the official GoCPS pages remain the source of record for testing windows and deadlines.
Build a Plan Around the Student
Elevate begins with the student’s current skills, timing patterns, school goals, and testing timeline.
Apply for a Strategy ConsultationPreACT, ACT, CPS, GoCPS, HSPT, and the Archdiocese of Chicago are referenced for informational purposes. Elevate Academic Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACT, Chicago Public Schools, Scholastic Testing Service, or the Archdiocese of Chicago.